Senate Bill 52 Summary

• Amends Arkansas Code § 16-90-502 to establish victims' rights during execution proceedings, specifically allowing close relatives of the deceased victim and surviving innocent victims to witness executions

• Permits execution attendees to include spouses, parents, stepparents, adult siblings, stepsiblings, adult children, and stepchildren of the crime victim if they choose to be present

• Authorizes a closed-circuit audiovisual monitor to be placed for victims' family members and surviving innocent victims to view the execution live if not present in person, with no more than 5 viewers unless necessary to accommodate additional family members

• Maintains the 30-person maximum attendance limit at executions but allows this cap to be exceeded if necessary to accommodate victim family members authorized under the bill

• Prohibits audio or video recordings of executions while clarifying execution procedures, methods, and the roles of the Department of Correction director and medical personnel